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strength as she stareddirectly at him.
"There are others in greater need than I," she said.
"Get her out of here," growled a plump woman who hadstationed herself to the right of Apollo. "She
should bejettisoned with the dead."
A number of muttering voices assented to the woman'sopinion. Starbuck could sense a danger in their
nastiness, ananger that could easily rise to open hostility.
"You're right, Starbuck," Apollo said. "Her arm looks broken. Get her and the old man to the shuttle."
Starbuck helped the old man and his wife to their feet,then took the injured woman by her good arm. He
wasconscious of the many obscenities and insults being releasedaround him. Their jeering seemed to be
escalating to a dangerpoint. He might have to draw his weapon again, in spite ofwhat Apollo had
ordered.
"Make daggit meat out of her," one woman shouted, andseveral voices assented. Starbuck did not look
in their direction, although he kept a wary eye for suspiciousmovements in his immediate vicinity.
"Dirty," another woman said.
"Socialator," said a man.
"No place for refuse," muttered a voice that clearlybelonged to the professorial bearded man.
A muscular man stepped up to Apollo as if he werespoiling for a fight.
"It's a sin to starve us," the man said, "while thebureaucrats and politicians luxuriate in their private
sanctu-aries."
"No one is in luxury," Apollo said, "I can promise you-"
"I've seen it," said the slighter man, who joined themuscular one in his confrontation with Apollo. "I saw it
withmy own eyes aboard theRising Star, before I was cast outand reassigned here."
Boomer saved Apollo from answering by stepping to hisside and announcing loudly, "Core Control is
aware of theproblem."
"Then I can tell these people that food and water is on theway?" Apollo said.
"They're aware of the problem!" "What is it?" said the professorial man. "You're keeping something from
us, aren't you?"
"Relief is on the way, I'm sure," Apollo said. "You havemy word as a warrior."
 Starbuck had finally made his way to the bulkheadhatchway, but hesitated there in case Apollo needed
his help. The woman and the old couple waited with him, their bodiesclearly tense with apprehension that
violence could erupt atany moment.
"Your word as a warrior," said a plump woman. "Youwere the ones that brought us this death watch,
warrior!"Apollo looked back at Starbuck, motioned for him to getthe woman and the old couple through
the hatchway. He andBoomer began edging back to the opening as the spacebetween them and the
crowd narrowed.
"Corrupt," the professorial man hollered. "The entire Quorum was corrupt. We were betrayed. Betrayed
...byall of you."
From the other side of the hatchway, Starbuck watchedApollo and Boomer get through the opening.
Apparentlyjust in time to save themselves from being trampled by theangry but frightened crowd.
Boomer quickly shut the hatchand spun its wheels rapidly to shut off the compartment.Sounds of agony
and anger could still be heard on the otherside of the round portal.
"My Lord...." Boomer muttered."You said it," Starbuck said.
Apollo's crew, who had remained in the engine roomchecking out solium leaks, gathered around, while
Boomertold them what had happened in the passenger compartment.Apollo shook visibly. Starbuck
moved to him.
"What happened? Why aren't these vehicles beingsupplied? I know we're low and Adama's cut rations,
butwe're not this-"
"I don't know!" Apollo hollered, his voice again a bitmore strident than Starbuck was used to. "But
something'sgone wrong, and I've got to find out what."
When the pounding began on the passenger side of thehatchway, Apollo ordered everyone back to the
shuttle. Heand Boomer took the controls, while Starbuck remainedwith the young woman and the old
couple. As soon as theyhad put some distance between themselves and the oldfreighter, Apollo switched
on the shuttle's communicator,and spoke angrily into its mike.
"Alpha shuttle to Core Command." "Core Command. Go ahead, Captain Apollo.""Request clarification
on food dispersal."There was a crackling silence before the Core Command voice replied.
"No information available at this time."Apollo exploded with anger. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]